Greece Is Open For Travel (pt. 14) - Kaunos
Jun 1, 2022 13:43:46 #
Another short journey across the waters into Turkey. This time, mooring off the port city of Mamaris and busing over to the ancient city of Kaunos (UNESCO World Heritage site). While very Greek-like (borders were very different to the ancient), the language was actually NOT Greek. It was only through the discovery of a Greek stela written in both Greek and Carian that the language could be decoded.
The legend of the city's founding involves the incestuous relationship between Caunus (son of King Miletus and Eidothea, daughter of the Carian king, Eurytus) and his sister, Byblis. Byblis fell in love with her brother. But when she declared her love, Caunus rejected her and ran away to a far off land. He named that land Kaunos. In her desperate passion, she went to look for him but had no luck in changing his heart. She wept many tears of despair that became the Dalyan River.
As we pulled into Mamaris, we were told that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich seeking security from the Russian purges (two oligarchs were found assassinated in Barcelona during this time) had brought his mega-yacht to port in Mamaris.
We took a boat ride down the Dalyan river, embarking at the farmer's co-op of Dalko. From there we took a tractor-pulled wagon up to the ruins.
The legend of the city's founding involves the incestuous relationship between Caunus (son of King Miletus and Eidothea, daughter of the Carian king, Eurytus) and his sister, Byblis. Byblis fell in love with her brother. But when she declared her love, Caunus rejected her and ran away to a far off land. He named that land Kaunos. In her desperate passion, she went to look for him but had no luck in changing his heart. She wept many tears of despair that became the Dalyan River.
As we pulled into Mamaris, we were told that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich seeking security from the Russian purges (two oligarchs were found assassinated in Barcelona during this time) had brought his mega-yacht to port in Mamaris.
We took a boat ride down the Dalyan river, embarking at the farmer's co-op of Dalko. From there we took a tractor-pulled wagon up to the ruins.
(Unretouched) The Abramovich yacht in the port of Mamaris
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Rock-cut tombs facing the Dalyan River (there are 167 known)
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The tombs seen from the river in perspective
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Reconstructed ruins
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Stoa at the agora
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An "artsy" shot of the domed church ruin
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Unearthing, cataloguing and assembling an archaeological site is like working a huge jigsaw puzzle
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Jun 1, 2022 13:46:50 #
Jun 1, 2022 13:47:22 #
Jun 1, 2022 15:42:19 #
Thanks for viewing and commenting. I surprised myself by realizing how many photos I'd taken of this place that was previously unknown to me. I may add a "part 2" after I review the remaining shots.
Jun 2, 2022 05:43:25 #
Jun 2, 2022 09:02:57 #
Excellent series. Have never seen the “cliff carvings” before. Thanks for sharing.
Jun 2, 2022 09:59:54 #
Jun 2, 2022 13:14:30 #
Jun 2, 2022 17:07:16 #
Jun 3, 2022 21:10:18 #
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